JULJ vs. XSEP

Last updated Jun 24, 2026

JULJ (Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July) and XSEP (FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September) are both Options Trading funds. Both are actively managed. Over the past year, JULJ returned 5.43% vs 9.84% for XSEP. A 0.64 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. JULJ charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.85%/yr for XSEP.

Performance

JULJ vs. XSEP - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July (JULJ) and FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September (XSEP). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, JULJ achieves a 1.90% return, which is significantly lower than XSEP's 4.28% return.

JULJ

• 1D: -0.08%
• 1M: 0.14%
• YTD: 1.90%
• 6M: 1.96%
• 1Y: 5.43%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

XSEP

• 1D: -0.24%
• 1M: 0.27%
• YTD: 4.28%
• 6M: 4.19%
• 1Y: 9.84%
• 3Y*: 9.46%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

JULJ vs. XSEP - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
JULJ Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July	1.90%	5.91%	6.17%	3.75%
XSEP FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September	4.28%	8.94%	8.41%	5.86%

Correlation

The correlation between JULJ and XSEP is 0.68, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.68
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 3, 2023	0.64

The correlation between JULJ and XSEP has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.64 to 0.68 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

JULJ vs. XSEP — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

JULJ

JULJ Risk / Return Rank: 97
JULJ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 95
JULJ Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
JULJ Omega Ratio Rank: 97
JULJ Calmar Ratio Rank: 97
JULJ Martin Ratio Rank: 98

XSEP

XSEP Risk / Return Rank: 74
XSEP Sharpe Ratio Rank: 70
XSEP Sortino Ratio Rank: 73
XSEP Omega Ratio Rank: 82
XSEP Calmar Ratio Rank: 62
XSEP Martin Ratio Rank: 82

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

JULJ vs. XSEP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July (JULJ) and FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September (XSEP). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	JULJ	XSEP	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.54	2.05	+1.49
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	5.89	2.95	+2.94
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.85	1.44	+0.40
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	9.00	2.82	+6.18
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	46.69	15.00	+31.69

JULJ vs. XSEP - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current JULJ Sharpe Ratio is 3.54, which is higher than the XSEP Sharpe Ratio of 2.05. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of JULJ and XSEP, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

JULJ vs. XSEP - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum JULJ drawdown since its inception was -3.62%, smaller than the maximum XSEP drawdown of -9.21%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for JULJ and XSEP.

Drawdown Indicators

	JULJ	XSEP	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-3.62%	-9.21%	+5.59%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-0.61%	-3.51%	+2.90%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-9.21%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.08%	-0.30%	+0.22%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.10%	-0.54%	+0.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.12%	0.66%	-0.54%

Volatility

JULJ vs. XSEP - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July (JULJ) is 0.23%, while FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September (XSEP) has a volatility of 1.00%. This indicates that JULJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XSEP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	JULJ	XSEP	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.23%	1.00%	-0.77%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	0.94%	3.90%	-2.96%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.54%	4.84%	-3.30%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	3.05%	6.99%	-3.94%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	3.05%	6.99%	-3.94%

JULJ vs. XSEP - Expense Ratio Comparison

JULJ has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is lower than XSEP's 0.85% expense ratio.

Dividends

JULJ vs. XSEP - Dividend Comparison

JULJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.66%, while XSEP has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023
JULJ Innovator Premium Income 30 Barrier ETF - July	5.66%	5.76%	5.96%	3.21%
XSEP FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF - September	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both JULJ and XSEP in my portfolio?

JULJ and XSEP have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, JULJ or XSEP?

XSEP has higher volatility (1.00%) compared to JULJ (0.23%). In terms of maximum drawdown, JULJ dropped -3.62% vs XSEP's -9.21%.

Which ETF is better, JULJ or XSEP?

On 1-year performance, XSEP leads with 9.84% vs 5.43% for JULJ. On fees, JULJ is cheaper at 0.79% per year. On volatility, JULJ has been the lower-risk option at 0.23%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, JULJ or XSEP?

Over the 1-year period, XSEP has performed better with a 9.84% return vs 5.43%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, JULJ or XSEP?

JULJ is cheaper with a 0.79% expense ratio, compared with 0.85% for XSEP.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, JULJ or XSEP?

JULJ has the higher dividend yield at 5.66%, compared with 0.00% for XSEP.

What is the main difference between JULJ and XSEP?

They also come from different issuers: Innovator and FT Vest. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for JULJ and 0.85% for XSEP.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

JULJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.54 vs 2.05), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.